Has your back been aching from working at your reclaimed, beat-up couch all day? Has it been a drag commuting to work every day? Has it been tough to concentrate at work and get things done?
These questions might sound like an infomercial, but this is about your office. Maybe what you need is someone who can take the guesswork out of designing a new space for you. I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Jenny Gauld, a designer for turnstone. We talked about process and design and what it looks like for her to walk through a project with clients ready for change.
So how does it all start?
In any design project, whether you are hiring a consultant online or meeting a designer in person, it all starts with a good set of questions. It is about finding solutions to your needs, discussing how you want to use your space, the type of storage requirements, and how to use color and materials to support your brand. The budget, move-in schedule and any other pertinent details are addressed at this point. This is about you and how you want your space to be.
It also starts with your vision. There are online tools you can use to create an overall scheme or get a better idea of what you like. Some examples are Pinterest or turnstone's past work as shown in customer stories. I've known designers take their clients to check out spaces that might be in line with what they are looking for. Co- working spaces are also good places to visit since they have the same amenities as an office: open and private spaces, break room and copy/print areas.
OK, I think I can do that. To get an idea what others are doing, what are the the trends you have seen with projects that you've completed?
Start ups tend to create a workplace that speaks so vividly about their culture, fosters a tight community and exudes fun. An office is traditionally where we collaborate, meet with clients and facilitate our day to day business. With planning furniture, we can help foster activities that will encourage interactions like dotting the space with comfortable soft seating to capture a sense of your home's living room or a communal table to get everyone to each lunch together. It is about culture and how to stay true to it everyday.
Secondly, supporting different postures is becoming important in the office. Almost everyone works from their laptop and being mobile is a common activity in the office. Allowing different seat heights, ranging from standard seat to stool and bar height chairs, allows you to move around and support posture.
I am not sure if I can commit to this change, we are pretty content with my existing reclaimed furniture. Does design really matter?
Of course it does! Your office is where you create, collaborate and reach project milestones. But it's not only about having a space conducive to productivity, it is creating an inspiring and comfortable space to share with peers who you spend most of your time with. Just take a look at Fracture. A company which started with randomly placed "reclaimed" furniture, but has taken the big step by creating a well-organized and branded space. It brought a sense of ownership and a positive future.
Letting go of the reclaimed furniture is a big step. But if you are serious about your company and its future, I believe it is time to outgrow the hand-me-downs and invest in the tools to help your business grow. Turnstone would love to help you start that journey.